What's Julia Up To Now, Anyway?

A little poem for you.

2010-07-16T19:35:00.002-04:00

Instead of updating you on the things I've been working on, I think you should read this poem by Mr. WB Yeats:

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer
Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image of spiritus mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in the sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches toward Bethlehem to be born?

Yeats (1865-1939)

Now mind, this is not some sort of political statement or reflection on how I feel. He's just a really fanastic writer.

Aaaaaaaanyway, I have a lot of really great auditions coming up, and an awesome thing happened to me that I can't legally mention until next Tuesday. The suspense will literally kill you.

I surprised my boyfriend with Dave Matthews Band concert tickets because I am the best girlfriend ever. Really I am.

BAM

2010-04-24T00:35:00.001-04:00

And Julia said, "Let there be a website."

And it was so.

http://www.juliagiolzetti.com

Do you like it?

It's in its infancy at the moment, but I am obsessively adding new things as I can. Now off to sweet, sweet sleep.

Upcoming website and other updates.

2010-04-23T15:08:00.003-04:00

Hello there!

Yes, it's true. I've grown tired of telling people "check out my blog" because I'm too embarrassed to admit I don't have a website. So I'm rolling my sleeves up, and taking matters into my own hands. I made a website when I was 13, dagnabbit, I can make one now! (Granted, it was on angelfire and was basically just jokes my friends told me and pics of my 14th bday party but it was SOMETHING)So follow along in my most likely hilariously bad attempts at making my own website. It should be up sometime before I die. Be on the lookout.

Also, on Monday I get to shoot this Columbia MFA film I've been working on for a few weeks now. We got really awesome feedback from John Rubin, the instructor, and I was able to shuttle off some headshots in the never-ending search for new jobs. I just pray the cold I'm nursing is staved off by then. :\

But the most exciting thing I did this week was audition for a series regular role on an HBO pilot! I thought I prepared the crap out of it and feel good about the audition. Heck, I felt good when I got asked to come in!!! I'm easily excited by such things. Anyway.....more updates to come, I'm having trouble concentrating when my head is all a sniffly!

Woohoo!

2010-04-08T17:48:00.004-04:00

So lots of good things are happening for me right now!

First, Midsummer is going swimmingly, there are three shows left (one of which is tonight, so I must be short with this post) so check it out at the Wings Theatre. Also, we got reviewed and it was quite positive, including this gem of a quote: "Shakespearean doubling includes...the versatile Julia Giolzetti as both the shrinking rustic Snug and the fairy Moth." For having such a small part, I'm honored to be recognized. Finally, I'm versatile, instead of "simply at a loss" as I was with American Soldiers. For the record, I was NEVER at a loss! NEVER!

See the full review here: http://qmetropolis.com/?p=1159

Baxter, lying on the exercise mat next to me, just squealed while dreaming his doggie dream.

Aaaaand last but most certainly NOT least, I got a call from the Bloc agency asking to sign me for legit representation!!!!!!!

YIPEE!

I met with them a couple weeks ago but was so nervous and thought I was so poopy I didn't feel the need to mention it. This all came from a seminar at the Network (www.thenetworknyc.com), so if you're looking for help, I'd check with these guys. I am so grateful to begin working with such a great agency. They had such a good vibe, like the antithesis of the scary agent man screaming on a cell phone. So we'll see where this takes me, I'm beyond thrilled to have other people trying to get me auditions, but I know that nobody can do all the work for you. If anything, I'm going to start working harder at getting better jobs and reaching higher levels in the industry. Until I don't need to work three (yes, three) other jobs. Or skip meals cause I'm low on cash. No more wondering if I have what it takes. Clearly someone else thinks I do....you know, I might actually be able to make a sound career doing the only thing that's ever truly made me happy.

Sorry I am gushing. It's a good feeling. Feels right. Well, off to go roar my ass off.

PS I saw Clash of the Titans on Easter and I'm not kidding in the least when I say it was the most entertaining thing I've seen in a while. RELEASE THE KRAKEN!!!! Liam Neeson is my homeboy.

People Are Really Dumb Sometimes

2010-03-12T12:45:00.002-05:00

And now, a tidbit from the world of customer service!

My poor colleague Josh just got yelled at by an insane woman who happens to be the president of her own PR company demanding we cancel and refund her subscription. The reason? Her password to the website has stopped working "again and again". That makes some logical sense until you consider what's actually going down with this loon.

First of all, this has happened once to her before. ONCE. And that was because she was entering her own email address wrong, putting in an extra dash. She asked to cancel that time too, but through some swift thinking on my part I was able to slowly guide her through logging in (and making sure she typed her email address in correctly. Here I'd like to reiterate she is the PRESIDENT of a company.)

This time? The time that frustrated her so much she demanded a refund? Do you want to know why her password didn't work? Do you?

SHE ADDED A 1 TO HER PASSWORD. She forgot her own password and instead of automatically resetting it like anyone else would do, she just assumed we were magically changing it on her to cause her pain and suffering.

And somehow, this is our fault. Somehow, we end up paying her money.

I wonder how she goes through her day. I wonder how she treats her poor employees. And most of all, I wonder what happened to her that made her this way. I hope she gets splashed by a taxi.

Rant ended.

Next week I'm singing Melissa Etheridge in a cabaret! It's at the Wings Theatre, 154 Christopher St, on March 19 at 8pm. The theme for the night is, "Gay Gay Gay". I don't think I need to tell you it will be FABULOUS.

An update for the ages.

2010-03-09T18:46:00.005-05:00

HELLO THERE!

I keep being a fart about updating my blog. I'm sure all my faithful blog readers keep checking for updates, only to have their hearts dashed and their weeks ruined. Well, here you go, Chiara Atik.

As my trusty dog Baxter sleeps by my side, I will recap all that has befallen me in this past month. I am SO sad Dear Brutus is over now, because it was a great time, a great part, and great people I worked with. We had a lot of people come see it in the mere week it ran, so that was really awesome. Nothing like playing to a full house!....mainly of elderly ladies, but isn't that what theater is all about? And now I will show you a couple pictures from the show, courtesy of our director Kymm:

There's me bein all sad about my husband kissing another lady, played beautifully by Jeff and Karen.

And then in the magical wood, the tables are turned! Now I am beloved.

Me realizing I'm still Jack's wife as Joanna (Karen) realizes she isn't. Hah.

There ya go!

So once it was over, I really wanted to keep working with Zephyer Rep and the Wings folks, so I auditioned and got cast in their next show, a rockin 80s all-chick Midsummer Night's Dream! Hooraw! I've only been to one rehearsal but it was very promising, it's cool to see chicks acting male roles better than I've seen actual guys do them. I'll be playing Snug the Joiner, the slightly off Mechanical who ends up playing the Lion in the meta play. I'm having a great time perfecting my vacant stare and general confusion at everything happening around me. It's really great to be a dim character in Shakespeare, because everyone around you is saying freakin Shakespeare and then there's you, picking your nose. Note: I would never pick my nose on stage, let alone in Shakespeare.

Also, last week I made my guitar singing and playing debut, also at Wings, in their first cabaret with the lovely Angel Drake. I even got a clap going! That was cool. Although I messed up a chord, right after I sang the word "fuck". I guess I got too excited about saying it.

And yesterday, I did my first job on the set of the new HBO series, "Boardwalk Empire"!!! It was an incredibly fun day, we got to be on their main boardwalk set which was so intricate and authentic I really felt like I was at the beach, even though there was a huge blue screen where the ocean should be. Movie magic people!!! The crew was great, which is so important when you're on set for 10 hours straight. And I loved being dressed like the littlest sailor girl. Oh, you want a picture?....Ok.

Anything else? I've reviewed two shows for Broadway After Dark and have 3 more lined up in the next couple weeks, which all came from this silly blog, so I'm VERY happy about this. I'm seeing lots of good theater for free!

And how is the rest of my life??? Hahahaha, I laugh in your face, the rest of my life doesn't exist. I'm trying my best to use my sparse free time correctly: seeing my friends, drinking with my friends, going on dates (with the same guy I've been going on dates with for 5+ years), and catching up on my favorite shows. Those being American Idol, Ghost Hunters, and LOST. Do not judge me, but if I miss any of those shows you better believe I'll be cranky. I guess that's not really a good threat, but it's the best I can do, I'm still reeling from the Boardwalk 5:15am call time.

Anyone watching LOST by the way? Isn't the last season amazing? Every Tuesday is another piece in the puzzle fitting together. Tonight is Ben's Sideways fate--can't wait! I actually saw Michael Emerson at Hill Country once and got too nervous to say hi. He was having fun out with his pals, and didn't need some fangirl drooling over him. To this day, I kick myself in the shins thinking of the things I would have said to him, like, "I wish you would get trapped on MY island", or, "Hey, you're the guy from the show where you keep getting punched in the face! Cool dude."

It's probably better I didn't speak to him at all.

Until next time, friends.

I'm aliiiiive!

2010-02-08T15:47:00.003-05:00

Yes, it's true, I've finally found five minutes to sit down and write in my dear darling blog. American Soldiers was a great experience, and has since come to a close. We had a great audience turnout, much more than I've experienced in Off-Off Broadway especially in the BITTER cold we've been having. Unfortunately (or fortunately, I guess) my performance was not enjoyed by the two critics who wrote us up. Figures that my first actual New York reviews were unpleasant. But I say they were fortunate because now I understand that feeling and also understand how little it really means in the scheme of my career. One reviewer thought I, as the actor, had not decided what my character thought about what was happening or where her loyalties stood. I found that interesting, because first of all, I'm not stupid and of course I made choices. But besides that, I'm not sure how necessary it is to know how every character feels about every aspect of any situation. I'm not sure they ever need to know anything! Ever heard of Beckett? Pinter? Those characters are never entirely disclosing everything. Ugh, it's not even worth it to argue when the person you're arguing with is on the Internet and gets to judge you as their job.

The other review, from a very large publication, was just plain mean-spirited and I feel sorry for people who feel the need to project negativity on the undeserved. But enough about that, as it doesn't bother me anymore. The show was good, people liked it, just not the people who write on the Internet! Rawr.

But of course, in typical Julia busybody style, I am already in the thick of rehearsals for another show, and the character couldn't possibly be any different from Marie. Yes, I finally get to play an ingenue, and it's awesome. In Dear Brutus by J.M. Barrie, a bunch of strangers are invited to a mischievious ageless (Pucklike) man's house, where it's said on Midsummer Eve a magical wood appears. If you chance to enter the wood, you can experience what everyone there desires: a second chance at life. For my character, whose husband is in love with another woman, the second chance is the possibility of never marrying him, and therefore never being a wistful, sad pathetic creature. And it's a COMEDY!

As you can see, I'm really, really excited for this show. Everyone in the cast is spectacular, which is so important when doing period pieces. I'm using my Adler training more here than I've ever been able to before (the classical training anyway; how to sit in a chair, walk in heels, not be a clunky awkward thing, etc) and it's great to work with people who have the same vocabulary and understanding of the time period. And I love, love, love the challenge of working with a British accent. And this is RP, the mother of all British accents--this is the "oh, dear", and "Rather!", and "We're awfully sorry" accent that is so crisp and proper that my mouth feels weird after doing it for a while. It's hard not to get wrapped up in the character when you change how you walk, sit, and speak! I'm sure people who know me well will get a kick out of me being chased through the forest by a suitor wearing a flowery pink dress and holding a parasol. Hopefully the audience will laugh too. That's the other hard thing....this comedy is so specific. It's all about timing and inflecting the right words, so I'm lucky to have such generous and smart scene partners.

So come to Christopher Street and see me! We're at the Wings Theatre and the showtimes are weird so I'm going to list them here for clarity's sake:
Saturday 2/20 2p
Sunday 2/21 2p
Tuesday 2/23 8p
Wednesday 2/24 8p
Saturday 2/27 2p
Sunday 2/28 2p

Press, Industry, and Ticket Line: 212-627-2961

More info at theateronline.com

Anything else? I'm tickled pink that the Saints have won, as were the thirtysomething people gathered at my apartment. Many thanks to all who brought copious alcohol and pretty much gourmet food (including an awesome NFL cake) (thanks Lisha). Ummm, I have no Valentine's plans despite having a boyfriend. We may just eat chocolate and watch TV. That's pretty romantic to me. Not spending money is also romantic. Wow, I'm old.

Ok, I have to find time to update more often. I'm very pleased with all the work I keep getting, but it's making it very difficult for me to actually DO anything. Alright, I promise my next post will be soon. Soonish.

American Soldiers, and Happy New Year!!!

2009-12-31T00:25:00.003-05:00

Hello!

Again, I apologize for my absence. I'm in a brand new show, premiering at Theater for the New City on Jan 14 called AMERICAN SOLDIERS. Details can be found at kadm.com and http://theaterforthenewcity.net/americansoldiers.htm AND in the New York (freakin') Times: http://theater.nytimes.com/show/24392/American-Soldiers/overview .

It's about a young woman who returns to Long Island from Iraq and attempts to bring her boyfriend and sister (me!) along with her to a new and un-bullshitty life in Colorado. Without revealing too much of the plot, it's heartbreaking, compelling, and real family drama that will make you rethink what it means to be a soldier, an American, a member of a family. It's good. And yes, it's funny too. It's probably the most experienced and professional group of people I've worked with, and it probably shouldn't be a surprise that I'm the youngest person involved. I'm learning more every day and just being in such an intimidating and hallowed space as TNC is overwhelming. Confession: I listened to Matchbox Twenty's "Bright Lights" (about a girl who moves to NYC....yes I am lame) while walking down 9th St which is draped in holiday lights sipping my Peppermint Mocha and heading to rehearsal--and I believe that feeling of belonging and content and success and giddiness was what I've been trying to accomplish ever since I decided as a child that I wanted to be a professional actor. Whew, that was a run on sentence if I've ever seen one!

Bonus: I am dressed kinda slutty for some of it. Not sure whether that would deter or encourage you, but there it is. Needless to say I have stopped eating entirely.

That isn't true. I literally just had McDonald's for dinner. But I didn't Super Size! Baby steps.

Aaaanyways you can get tickets on Smarttix. And while you're at it you can vote for me on the NY Innovative Theatre Awards website! Not till it opens obviously, but I'm in a plugging mood so!: http://www.nyitawards.com/oobshows/show.asp?showID=1566

Oy! So much to go over. My Charger boys are the #2 seed which means I am a happy happy lady. I got to scream at them when I was home for the Bengals game, and the crowd caused 3 penalties!!! Awesome. And for Xmas, I raked in some serious loot including a Chargers sideline beanie, Chargers earrings, a Chargers sweatshirt, and that's just football stuff! I'm lucky my family knows the only thing on my mind in December are the Bolts.

Also, news flash: it's cold over here. Really cold. So cold I need Baxter the dog as a body warmer. Thank goodness he is a willing participant. And it sure is a bitch to get up when you can feel the cold seeping through the window and you're cuddled under the cover, sheet, and blanket in pj's and fuzzy socks with Baxter snuggled also under the covers with his head curled around your elbow. Oof!

But seriously, 2009 has blessed me with jobs on movies, TV shows, and principal roles in 6 shows! I was so busy but so so happy and can only hope that 2010 makes me busier, happier, and richer! This decade has been kind to me, guiding me from braces-clad, awkward 13 through my first love, first heartbreak, first kiss, marching band competitions, San Diego Junior Theatre, college, New York, parties, old friends and new friends, my first apartment, second apartment, first dog, a fairly healthy 5 year relationship, watching my sister grow up and my parents become actual cool people--through right here, right now, as a 23 year old actor in her Manhattan flat. My biggest dilemma is what to do on New Year's Eve. Which is tomorrow. Times Square is out. Any last-minute thoughts or ideas for next year???

Happy New Year blog readers...I hope your decade was as lovely and eventful as mine and hope the 2000-teens will both entertain and teach you. But most importantly, let's all remember that tomorrow is for drinking, and I mean drinking a lot. Cheers.

On the Eve of the Eve of Thanksgiving

2009-11-24T16:15:00.003-05:00

Well hello there.

Apologies for the absence, after finishing this last show (my third in as many months) I needed some time to myself. And by that I mean focus on my other two jobs, my relationship, my friends and family, oh and go on a bunch of auditions. And two extra shoots, one hellish and one quite good....for the same movie. Hint: if they make you take a van to Upstate New York and say it will be a 12 hour shoot.....it will be a 17 hour shoot. Oy. But I think the movie will be good. It's called "White Irish Drinkers." Look for it, you'll see me mulling around in some scenes as I am wont to do in movies.

I have auditioned for two plays in the last two weeks and got callbacks for both, which is nice for the ol self esteem. One callback is tonight (eep), and while I think I am in good favor with the director, I don't want to jinx it. What's helpful is the character in the scene I've got is exhausted and in real life I'm exhausted from trip planning and house cleaning and general working too late merriment. So as they say, "USE IT!" and hope he doesn't think I'm just bored.

Then tomorrow morning I am off ass early to sunny San Diego for turkey, family, relaxation, warm weather, Chargers vs Chiefs (i got tickets!), and being a bum in general (a beach bum obviously).

Also I just got gchatted by a casting director. I'm interested and a bit flattered but also way weirded out. And with that, I leave you dear reader. Look to the skies tomorrow morning and know that I am looking down at you, probably because I'm so tired I can't even sleep on a damn plane.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Random.

2009-11-01T14:25:00.002-05:00

As I leave to go to an audition in the Burg after 2 solid days of festive parties and slutty outfits and alien duct tape hands and wild passionate events, I looked at an old LJ entry from 2005.

And what stood out was that a long time ago, when Facebook was merely a shadow of its current abominable form, I made a fan group for my favorite movie of all time, "Moulin Rouge." It was called "Moulin Rouge is like sex, but less depressing." And one day as I was doing adminish things, I noticed a new group member, who had blocked all their profile information. Now this was before you could join groups from other schools. So when I saw this person's name, it could really have been no other. Yes, that fateful day Ashley Olsen joined my Facebook group.

Just thought I'd share that important story with the world. Off to show some people some acting.

Oh, and tomorrow I'm background in a movie and we're shooting in a cemetery, and our holding area is a mofo-ing CRYPT! Awesome/creepy/blasphemous.

Mat Kearney--New York to California

2009-10-28T16:29:00.000-04:00

What can I say, I'm California dreamin' today!!!! Here's a song I like:

Under the TV lights, you fell asleep again
Dont know, I'm writing this song about you
There's a picture of a Hollywood sign, reflecting off your skin I
Don't want to live another day without you
You woke up and said baby I, had one of those dreams again
The rain came down and I lost you, In the wind
You said something about don't leave, before you fell back asleep
Before I could sing my song back to you

But you could find your self lost out in this world
And I found a way to get back to your side
no mountain's too high, no stone is too small
I'll build a bridge through the fire, for you I would crawl
From New York to California

I could hear you softly breathing, oh what you do to me
But baby I could climb down into your dreams
I Build a ladder down through the clouds
Where the storms Is raging now I
Don't want to sing another song without you

If you find your self lost out in this world
Then I'll find a way to get back to your side
no mountain's too high, no stone is too small
I'll build a bridge through the fire, for you I would crawl
From New York to California

Ohhhh, It's not too far,
Ohhhh, to where you are,
Ohhh, It's not too far,

Cause you, could find your self lost out in this world
And I, Could find a way to get back to your side

If you find your self lost out in this world
Then I'll find a way to get back to your side
No mountains to high, no stone is too small
I'll build a bridge through the fire, for you I would crawl
From New York to California, To California, To California

T.A.B. at the Manhattan Rep!

2009-10-28T13:23:00.003-04:00

Where have I gone, you say? I have been balls deep in rehearsals for T.A.B. and it opens tonight! So I have resurfaced to give some details to those on the Internets who would like to come.

Presented by the Manhattan Rep, T.A.B. is a surreal examination of a true story. In 2000, an MIT student named Elizabeth Shin was found burning alive in her dorm room and suicide by self-immolation was discussed as the cause. Like so many Korean-Americans and people of all ethnicities with immigrant parents, Elizabeth suffered from an inability to reconcile her parent's heritage with the American society that consumed her life. After having mono in high school, she missed a Physics test that contributed to her only being Salutorian, not Valedictorian--something her parents also attributed to racism and Elizabeth's laziness. One day after her family visited her at MIT with groceries and stories of home, Elizabeth lit some candles, wrote in her journal a macabre entry about how yoga is the only way she was able to feel relaxed, and the next minute she went up in flames. Like a Buddhist monk she became an offering, a sacrifice.

Playwright Susan Pak read a NY Times article about Elizabeth and it prompted her to write: about Elizabeth, about Koreans, about Americans, and the imagery and words flow on the page like a stream-of-consciousness from someone on the verge of a great discovery.

It's fun. It's insightful. It's heartbreaking. But most of all, it's something that I don't think has been done in theatre before. If you want to argue that point with me, why don't you come see for yourself? (see what I did there?)

Also, you might be wondering why myself, as a Whitey McWhiterton, is anywhere near this play. As well as Erin the producer, I've been with this project since its first New York premiere playing this part of the semi-retarded and totally clueless roommate. Growing up with 60% of my friends Asian really informed how I worked on this character...I was indeed the white friend, but I can only hope I treated my friends better than Kathy treats Victoria. And the worst part is that Kathy's insensitivity is never intentional.

So go to manhattanrep.com to find out more and to listen to a podcast our director Tracy recorded with the Artistic Dir of Manhattan Rep. For tickets you can call (646) 329-6588. We go up tonight at 8pm, and tomorrow and Friday at 6:30pm. Seating is VERY limited, it is black to the box. And if you're industry and wanna come, first of all, hey! And second of all, just call the number and mention you're industry and you should be able to get comps. One caveat: apparently they check business cards when you show up to get a comp ticket. Sketchy much?

In other news, I shot a short little piece for a Columbia grad student a few days ago about...dun dun DUN....abortions! That was a lot of fun, actually. I got the call to do it last minute so I went from eatin nachos on my couch to crying on a stranger's bathroom floor in about an hour. Ah, the actor's life.

Finally, I was an extra in a movie with a star type person last week, and it was my first experience with a name actor being a total douchebag to everyone. She was such a bitch. And we weren't paid, and kept there hours longer than we were promised we would be out by, and they ran out of food. Serves me right for working on a non-union, unpaid job. I learned my lesson though. But luckily I was able to make friends!

The End?

What do you cling to when it all becomes overwhelming?

2009-10-13T15:29:00.002-04:00

When the Backstage listings pile on each other after each refreshing, as you look at them and go, "is that part worth changing my Thanksgiving trip?" or, "can these be anything more than internet porn?", it's hard to keep going. And it takes a lot for me to say that, especially me, because I don't find it easy to admit that I'm struggling. I think we all should, it actually makes me feel better to admit that what I'm doing isn't a typical way of life, nor is it the easiest way of life. But it's all I can do, and even now as I sit on hold with some person in need of a password to our website, it's so obvious that I should never be behind a desk. Not because I'm stupid, because my knees knock together and I finish everything too fast so I get more and more work piled on and I feel GUILTY about leaving to go on auditions. Guilty! Ridiculous!

That, friends, is why I applied to be on Who Wants to be a Millionaire today, so don't judge. Besides, it's on tv, and you have to go through an extensive audition process so it's not completely unrelated to acting.

I guess you could call me hungry. Starving. And it's not like I'm not working--I've been rehearsing or performing almost every day since freaking mid-August! I'm just hungry for more. Every day I don't work makes me try harder to get auditions, stay in shape, and book something. And every day I do work, while it seems weird, just makes me even hungrier. I guess it's like someone who quit smoking and then sneaks a cigarette in one day. Sure, every day you don't have a smoke is hard, but if you cheat and have just one puff, your brain must instantly go crazy with the possibilities of smoking a pack a day, cancer be damned, not a care in the world.

I have no idea what I'm talking about. I'm not even a smoker!

All I want to do is act. It's all I've ever wanted to do. I have to keep that in mind or I'll go crazy. I guess I just resent when people act like I had no idea how hard it would be. Everyone on the freaking planet knows how hard it is to make a living, let alone as a professional actor.....but NOBODY and NOTHING can prepare you for the reality of getting through each day and ending on a positive, hopeful note. For now, I'm working, I'm young, and I'm doing good things in my work. I'm growing, and improving, and learning, and always raising the bar to something greater. And as long as I can keep that up, I won't ever be satisfied with the present, always looking to the next thing. And that's quite alright with me.

Adventures in Temping

2009-10-08T11:40:00.002-04:00

Someone just called my office's customer service line looking for "Stimulating conversations." Confused, I responded telling him I thought he had the wrong number. He sounded drunk. He sounded dirty. I could hear lust in his voice as I repeatedly and politely informed him that I was not, in fact, a phone sex operator but a temporary customer service manager. I was so confused, because it's not really something you expect to have to deal with at a publishing house. So "stimulating conversations", whatever that may be, are not (fortunately) in my job description. I hung up after he thanked me for my help (and my soothing voice, I can only assume) and I went back to my Excel file bemused and a little creeped out. Speaking of which, that Excel file ain't gonna complete itself...

PINK! Praise and other goings-on

2009-10-06T17:04:00.004-04:00

So now that PINK! is past, what better time to post other's thoughts on it? Yes, it is backward, but better late than never. Besides, PINK will be back. Oh it will.

"I am the Managing Director of the WorkShop Theater Company where the production of PINK is taking place, and I had the good fortune of seeing the show last night.
Besides the setting (a sleep-a-way camp for 12 year old girls. ), there is NOTHING saccharine about this play.
In fact, I would best describe it as a "God of Carnage" for "tweens."
It is coarse, vulgar, innocent, sweet, deadly dramatic, and most importantly, very, very funny.
It only runs a week more -- but the play and performances are so good, that I just had to write to those of you who were wavering, to check this play out.
It will be 90 minutes very well spent."
--David M. Pincus, Managing Director WorkShop Theater Company
www.workshoptheater.org
Chair, Theater Task Force
Manhattan Community Board 4

And here is Broadway After Dark's Review, which gives such a nice summary of my character I chuckled in agreement:
http://www.broadwayafterdark.com/Durell.htm
Cabaret and Other Wanderings with Sandi Durell
Welcome to Camp “PINK”
Down Payment Productions WorkShop Theater Main Stage
Reviewed by: Sandi Durell
September 20, 2009

"Ah, pubescence, those wonderful years of honesty, no cares, exploration. In this case, however, the girls at Camp “Pink” are the result of a more modern day phenomenon. They are the Me Generation capable of saying and doing anything. They are nasty, vicious and abusive. Five nymphets finding womanhood at sleep-away camp, obsessed with everything sexual as they refer to each other as Vagina and batter each other with brutal honesty, eventually turns into the ultimate horror.

Samantha (Julia Giolzetti), the quiet book reader, sensible and mature is the butt of much battering and ‘odd girl out’; Ashley (Caitlin Mehner) sexually mature, is the leader of the pack, suffering from the dysfunctionality associated with sexual abuse by her father. She is mean, lies and capable of anything as we see at the conclusion. Zoe (Kaela Crawford) is Ashley’s shadow, slave and play toy. Tracy (Alison Scaramella) is good natured, fair and understanding but sometimes caught in the web of being just a 12 year old trying to grow up. Abby (Stephanie Strohm), a bit overweight, would like to have experienced more and finds herself confused much of the time as she is tossed around in the emotional play of the Me Me’s.

The 90 minute ride provokes both laughter and riveting disgust as they tear each other apart with everything from whose Bat Mitzvah they will attend ( 2 of the girls have the same date), the experience of a first menstruation, dealing with parents’ affairs, fashion, cheating, boyfriends, first sexual experiences and all the bitchiness one might imagine.

The final horror occurs as Ashley wants to give Abby the experience of sexuality and, with Zoe’s assistance, Abby is tied up and inadvertently smothered to death. In typical Ashley style, she immediately blames Zoe as she tries to deny who and what she is and has done.

The cast is top rate in their performance abilities, the play disturbing and thought-provoking, and although playwright Stacy Davidowitz assures that the content is entirely fictional and none of the characters and events are based upon real people and events, there remains a BIG question mark in my mind! The run of this play is complete but should it be revived I recommend you see it and decide for yourself."

Whew! Good times!

So rehearsals have begun for T.A.B. (take 2) and I'm really excited to see the play in a new light and go back to work on Kathy. Since this time around we're treating everything much more abstract, I'm going to need a much firmer grip on the character so I can then go crazy with the text. The director, Tracy, is wonderful and has so many great ideas that it almost feels like I'm working on an entirely different, but still awesome play. And it's cool to see new actors playing the other parts; while nobody is necessarily doing it "better", it's fun to see how different people interpret the same characters and dialogue...sometimes the line readings don't change at all, sometimes they're radically different...I love it!

Also PUNCHDRUNK is coming to the USA and I'm in the midst of a field trip planning to go for Halloween! If you're not familiar with the troupe, Google that ish NOW. They are amazing, and I only know that from firsthand accounts.

Aaaaand what else? It's getting colder around here but I am resisting busting out the big jacket because that means winter and winter is poopie.

Well off to rehearsals!

In the Audition Room? Me?

2009-09-25T11:55:00.003-04:00

I've always wanted to be in an audition room on the other side of the table. And even though I've been acting for 20 or so years, I never have, save the one time I directed a play my senior year of high school, and all the auditioners were my friends. So I was ecstatic when my bffaeae Erin asked me to help out with auditions for the reincarnation of "T.A.B." I'm not sure if I'm reading with people or not, but I know that seeing an audition from the other side is so valuable to an actor. Since I'm in the spirit of giving, I'll share my thoughts on the experience sometime tomorrow (and no, I won't name names or comment on specific auditions). I'm considering this a free acting class more than anything. How did the ancient actors learn their craft? Mimcry and imitation. How can you be an actor if you can't observe how other people inhabit their bodies and the world? Isn't that kind of the whole point? To get inside someone else's head, to leave your own, is a special kind of bliss I would guess only happens in the most rare and sublime of cases.

In other news, I find when I'm in crisis I desperately find work to do. Anything to keep my mind working...otherwise it shuts down and I turn into a poopy kind of person.

Speaking of, I had an audition Monday that freakin rocked. I worked hard on the material and it paid off as I was told I was called back while still in the room. What a great feeling and a great experience. So that callback is in a few days and they gave me lots of new material to peruse, which I love. Nothing makes me happier than a bunch of sides to go through and a full script to read. I love words. I love plays. I love reading them out loud, much to the chagrin of my neighbors.

So what have I learned this week, friends? When love fails you, go to work. When work fails you, give love another shot. But NOT A Shot of Love With Tila Tequila. I think mentioning Tila Tequila will give my blog 3000 more hits today than normal. Here's hoping.

Appropriately Sad Song Lyrics

2009-09-21T14:18:00.003-04:00

If I'm really going through a breakup I might as well post some song lyrics. Sorry guys, we'll resume with regularly scheduled programming soon.

Come on Get Higher--Matt Nathanson
I miss the sound of your voice
And I miss the rush of your skin
And I miss the still of the silence
As you breathe out and I breathe in

If I could walk on water, If I could tell you what’s next
Make you believe, make you forget

So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire in the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me in love

I miss the sound of your voice
The loudest thing in my head
And I ache to remember
All the violent, sweet,
perfect words that you said

If I could walk on water, if i could tell you what’s next,
make you believe, make you forget

So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire in the swing of your hips
Just to pull me down hard
And drown me in love

I miss the pull of your heart
I can taste the sparks on your tongue
I see angels and devils
And God
when you come on
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
Singin' shalala la

Come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire in the swing of your hips
Just to pull me down hard
And drown me in love

So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire in the swing of your hips
Just to pull me down hard
And drown me, drown me in love

(come on get higher, loosen my lips)It's all wrong
(faith and desire at the swing of your hips)It's all wrong
(just to pull me down hard and drown me in love)It's all right

So, come on, get higher
Come on, get higher
'Cause everything works love
Everything works in your arms

PINK! is over...for now.

2009-09-21T10:16:00.002-04:00

Thanks so much to everyone who came to see us! I've never had such universally gushing responses toward a play before--people of all different kinds loved it, young and old. I was approached by many strangers and asked if the events in the play had ever happened to me as a kid (they haven't, I would never hide my diary in such an obvious place!), or if I really was a lesbian. That was awkward...not that I can convincingly play someone who kisses girls but just awkward in general to declare your love of boys to strangers. I was also told by a lot of people, also some strangers, that they identified with my character the most out of the 5 girls which was the ultimate compliment to me. Granted I wasn't an evil villain, I was a misfit kid, but how awesome that I got people to see through Samantha's eyes. This show also got me really good at crying onstage. Which I think is the hardest thing to fake. Anger, laughter, and fear are all pretty straightforward but actually tricking your body into crying is so damn hard. By repeating the scene over and over and also finding words and actions of other characters that triggered tears helped immensely....and of course all the other girls were so good and the moment was written so well I never had to fake it. Actually last night the tears came so quickly and easily I kind of just sat back and let them happen.

Things haven't been going great on the personal front, but I'd like to think the tears were just frustration, exhaustion, and regret that the show's over. But who knows.

In happier news, I was offered a small part in a new movie from the same company who worked with me on "Last Chance", which is now in post production. I am thrilled to work with them again since I had so much fun on the last shoot. And there are dogs involved! Maybe Baxter will get a cameo. Don't be a diva Baxter.

And in awesome news, remember the show I did back in May for the Downtown Urban Theatre Festival?! It got picked up for the Manhattan Rep Theatre Fall Play Festival! Yes, "T.A.B." returns October 28 at 8pm and the 29-30 at 6:30pm. If you weren't able to catch the first incarnation, I highly recommend coming to the festival. It's a provocative and touching story and much of the old gang is reuniting which gives me joy. Nothing is more awesome than collaborating with actors more than once.

If I find a review of PINK! I'll post, but that's it for now. I have another audition tonight as well, because, well, I don't understand what "take a break" means. Heh.

OPENING NIGHT!!!!!

2009-09-10T16:42:00.002-04:00

SQUEAL!!!!

But first, an audition....

Wish me luck!

My true loverly lub.

2009-09-09T13:16:00.002-04:00

Too sexy for words!!!! Ewan McGregor is the first and only fella for me. Oh, you say he's married? Alas. Anyway while scrolling through Best Week Ever I found this and it made me squishy inside so I had to repost it. Also www.bestweekever.tv is the funniest blog in the world. For serious. Although today is the Official Day with no Cats (and therefore no LOLz) so maybe check it tomorrow instead.

Also its 9.9.09 which means something to us, but not to people with different ways of counting time, animals, plants, or really the rest of the universe. But it's a cute little coincidence. Where will I be at 9:09 pm on 9.9.09?......rehearsing. As any self-respecting actor would be.

My sore throat lingers, and coughing is an issue, but that shouldn't stop you from seeing PINK! tomorrow at the Workshop Theatre Mainstage (see what I did there?)(it was a plug)(nevermind). People get sick at camp so it's not too much of a stretch.

Can I just say as well....that I am so so SO proud of this production. That's my overwhelming emotion, even though I should be nervous about opening. I am just filled with pride and admiration. When so many people come together on a project and really throw their entire souls into it 1000% for weeks, it shows. It shows in the AMAZING bunk beds constructed by Amanda, Laura's seamless and awesomely edited web videos, Johanna's keen eye and life saving organizational skills, Stephanie's ridiculous, heartbreaking and fabulous costumes, Joel's spooky lights, Kate's sweet smile as she rubs shaving cream off my face. It shows in Stacy's words, words she has invented and collected from these insane children and words she has twisted into a beautiful terrific thing. It shows in Brian's gasps and giggles as he gleefully directs us. And of course, Caitlin and Kaela and Ali and Steph are SO talented. I will truly miss this group. You know that a show's good when you fear the end of it before it even opens!

So I hope you out there will come see it. It's not some half-assed shindig. If I do my part right, you'll leave the theatre thanking the heavens you're no longer twelve years old.

Coughy Hurty Theatre.

2009-09-08T12:12:00.002-04:00

I AM SICK! BEWARE!

This is how I must present myself to every actor and production person I have interacted with since Sunday. There would be catastrophic results if anyone got this bug I possess. It makes me hungry but too tired to eat, sleepy but to hurty to sleep, and my neck is just one achy lump of muscle. It's bad, folks. But never fear, I've taken off work today and hopefully tomorrow to stave off the infection and keep me as healthy as possible for tech week.

Oh and Sunday was the last Henry show. I debated attending the afterparty but am so glad I decided to go. Sutton as usual was a graceful hostess and I was reminded of how great it is to be surrounded by friendly actors having a good time.

Wait, tech week? I'm THIS SICK during TECH?!

That's right, I am. Because my life is a miserable hilarious joke. Of course I'll survive but for now I'm just resting in the sadistic satisfaction of it. What was nice yesterday was that the Pink! bunks are made and I have Jonas Brothers sheets that looked oh, so, so comfy and we got a little break and-woosh. I was asleep, immersed in the world of Bunk 14, with Joe Jonas watching from the pillowcase. I think we were all impressed with the space and how hard the set designer worked to recreate camp in its bunked, wooden, cramped glory. Combined with our costumes and breast binding (no C cups for 12 year olds!) yesterday was a blast despite this ailment.

My sleepiness looms. As does the Pizza Delivery Man. I hope they both arrive soon.

Oh, and as if I haven't said it enough: Pink! opens THURSDAY at 8pm. http://www.pinktheplay.com.

Website, Video, Parties = Sleepy.

2009-08-31T13:52:00.008-04:00

Sooooooo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VPJoep7O0k&feature=player_detailpage
Here's the video introducing my Pink! character, Samantha. I encourage you to check out PinkthePlay's YouTube channel to see the other videos as my fellow cast members are brilliant and awesome.

Also, http://www.pinktheplay.com has been completed and is now the most fierce place to be on the web (except here, of course).

And the Henry plays have been getting some nice press after being booted out of Prospect Park by Michael Jackson's memorial (which, I mean, we have to let that go. Free Shakespeare is wonderful, but MJ is MJ). Besides we had a kickass marathon yesterday of both plays and had a great turnout. Including Lisha, who I very unprofessionally winked at while "setting up the English camp."

AND tonight is the big party for Pink! at Volstead on 54th st. 9pm. All the cast will be selling dollar Jello Shots, looking fabulous, with themed drink specials. And I can only assume the music will be amazing--lots of Brit Brit. So come out for a little bit and drink with me! If you mention my blog I'll buy you 5 drinks. Not really. Well, maybe.

Also, check me out one more time in Henry V next Sunday the 6th in Prospect Park. Here's a picture of me as the Boy, full of exuberance and bug bites: (and shut up, they totally had water bottles back then!)

Busy! As a bee!

2009-08-25T16:56:00.004-04:00

What a fortuitous weekend! Saturday was spent with the fine folks of Pink! in New Jersey basically staying in character all day and taking many fun photos/videos for promotional/recreational purposes. Oh those girls are funny. They are all such spectacular improvisers I couldn't help but applaud after each unscripted interview was filmed.

Plus the website is up and running (plug plug plug): http://www.pinktheplay.com/ with a handy synopsis and soon, some of the videos we shot. It was such a great time to get out of the city and its unbearable heat and do some actin' in the woods.

Then Sunday Henry V went up in Prospect Park and I was astounded at the response we received. Joggers, bikers, and families literally stopped in their tracks to listen. Kids who I assume had no idea what was going on were pointing, eyes wide, at us prancing around on the pagoda. And as cynical as I get about Shakespeare in the Park being so cliche and lame and doesn't inspire people to keep his words alive....I kind of ate dirt metaphorically and actually, because I die and then fall on the dirt.

That's another thing. Why couldn't the English lackeys die near strategically placed towels? Death disables your ability to keep the ants out of your ear! And then as they sing the sad song and we slowly walk offstage, I feel a mosquito get me in the thigh. And now I have a baseball-sized swollen monstrosity where he drank my blood. But as they say, the show must (itchily) go on. So yes, two more chances to see (for free) Henry V in the Prospect Park Music Pagoda: Sundays August 30 and September 6, 4:30pm. B or Q to Prospect Park. If you're just coming to see me, here's a fair warning that the Boy has very few lines, but a spectacular death scene. If you want to wait for Pink! be my guest. That would be September 10-20.

Did you notice I only have 3 days in which I am not performing for three weeks?! Wahoo.

As far as personal life...Baxter got groomed and looks ever so darling:

See?! I love my pup!

Had a lovely birthday dinner for an old friend last night at Alta, where the tapas flow freely and my taste buds go, "alsdgajdgjhgsdjkfgdsjcmmmmmm". It was good.

Alright, more to come, as always.

Here it goes again...

2009-08-10T12:30:00.003-04:00

Why is it I can only be in nothing at all or two concurrent productions????

It creates this life energy of sloooow, sloooow, boooring, what am i doooing heeeere to OMG yes I can make that rehearsal but I'll be a little late cause my other show goes till....AHHHH.

Who am I kidding. I love it. One show closes, the other opens two days later. That's good, that eases the pain. Wait....so Henry V opens the 23rd, Pink! closes Sep 26-27ish....that is one awesome month of performances GALORE! Weee.

And I love that in both plays, different as they are, I am playing a prepubescent child. Darn these boobs and the hurt they cause costume designers sometimes.

So, basically, even though one show is already rehearsing, this is the calm before the crazy. This happened to me in May too and it was wonderful, but short since the performances only lasted a week. This will certainly be an amplified experience.

Bring it!

Hooray!

2009-07-30T07:38:00.002-04:00

I got cast as Samantha in Pink!

Details to follow but let's just say after that 2 and a half hour callback I'm glad I have something to show for it. The script is great, the part is so wonderfully good, I can't believe my phone message. So for today, if you happen to call me, I may answer with a squeal. And you'll know why.

Addendum.

2009-07-28T20:48:00.002-04:00

I totally got called back for that other show. So me to call it early. Booyah. Two callbacks in a row? Something's going to go horribly wrong soon, I promise!

Oof! Or Sunday

2009-07-27T23:10:00.004-04:00

I will begin this post by mentioning I got fired from that heinous reception job because "I wasn't a good fit for the company". Yeah, wasn't a good fit to fill in at the front desk for four days for basically minimum wage. They just didn't like me cause of my Kohl's top. Deal with it bitches. I've got a much nicer setup in a construction company in an office with not one, but TWO sassy Jamaican ladies. Thank you Jesus. I really, really love it there. Who knew accounts payable could be so much fun?!

So yesterday I may have overexerted myself. I had an all-day workshop with two fabulous casting directors and while it was a bit intimidating I ended up learning so much and really enjoyed myself. Watching others almost teaches you more about acting than actually acting. I was awkward, but I'm always awkward, so what else is new. I think the most important thing I learned was knowing your material well enough to make informed choices. I mean, I know that's a thing, but this stressed the importance. It was obvious when people didn't know where they were or what the context was. And even if that info wasn't available, they didn't create a reality for themselves. Others, on the flip side, from the first word drew a whole environment with their body language and tone and expression. It was really fun to watch that--I definitely stole some things.

Then I mosied down to the Financial District, limping from a blister and unable to put a band-aid on my sweaty foot, for my next endeavor: a Shakespeare company. I always go out for Shakespeare things just to keep it fresh. Not that it gets old, but I just like saying those fancy shmancy words. Like "timorous".

Then the scariest thunderstorm ever happened. I got drenched since somebody (Jason) forgot to bring an umbrella to his lunch date with me. Like completely soaked in a hilarious way. Luckily I had time to duck into a bathroom and make myself not look like a swamp monster for the next audition, for a play I found to be seriously funny and awesome. But a day has gone by without a callback, so alas. It started out so well too--they were very excited to see my Big Love credit. Nobody seems to know what that was. It was in the New York Times people! Headphone jacks! Newspapers are dying :(

THEN off to visit my one blog follower and her merry roommates. Poor Lisha, working made her sick. Get better! Comment on my blog so I feel like I have friends and then people will see "oh look a comment she's not just rattling on to herself like a crazy person".

So, by 10:30 pm, a full 13 1/2 hours after I left, I plopped on my bed and gave Baxter a squeeze, which he returned by immediately running away from me.

Today was uneventful except I prepared for my Columbine callback tomorrow (!!!!) and had a Julia moment: I was fumbling with my phone on the street, and this very trendy girl walks by and says, "I really like that bag!" I smile, look up and say, "thanks", as I notice I am standing in front of a bag store. D'oh.

San Diego and the Swing of Things

2009-07-22T15:09:00.003-04:00

As many actors are wont to do, I am writing this blog from the not-so-friendly confines of an office building. This office is for fashion accessories, which means I get to have a "Devil Wears Prada" style visual beatdown with every girl who dresses better than I do. Sigh. I have the only Kohl's top in sight. Also some guy's beagle is here barking his little puppy ass off. Who brings a puppy to work? Where's Bruno when you need to satire someone?

But enough. I'm making almost 10 dollars an hour and sitting in an air conditioned room (albeit with bad, bad music playing I can only classify as Techno-Lite). Be thankful, damnit.

So I was home for 16 glorious days. No grime, no licentious construction workers, no place to be....but also no looking-up-at-buildings moments or subway rides or auditions. So it was bittersweet. In brief, I spent 3 magical days in Disneyland with family and friends, and was transported to my four year old self and loved every second of it. Ate a giant ice cream cone walking down Main Street. Cried when Mickey won back the control of his imagination in Fantasmic!!! Wondered if I should give New York up to play Belle (eh, I'm too short anyway). I also went to the beach, tanned by my pool, watched endless hours of TV (research, I told my parents), and even got to see COLDPLAY with my sister! I had never been to a "spectacle" style concert before--wow is all I can say. It was theatrical to say the least. My crush on Chris Martin only intensified.

I was also present for my grandma's 80th birthday, which was a swanky deluxe deal with an open bar (score!) And my family is the ULTIMATE Charger family so it was Fate that the Chargers starting center, Nick Hardwick, was at the same restaurant! We convinced him to talk to Nane and it was so sweet/weird to see a crazy huge tatooed football player gingerly kissing my grandma on the cheek. We toasted to the team, my dad had an awkward photo op, we moved on.

This Techno Lite is seriously destroying my brain cells.

But my trip home was most positive because it put my New York life into perspective. San Diego seems less and less like home but more like a pleasant place that will always be there, a paradise that is familiar but slightly removed from childhood memories. I never sit in the city and wonder why I'm here, but I often lay on my bed in San Diego and wonder why I left. Silly me.

And I found myself justifying it to my parent's ever-weakening pleas to keep me in California. You can stay in Los Angeles. You can rise to the top of the San Diego theatre scene. But I never wanted that. And the more time I spend in New York, and even the more rejections I collect, I am more convinced that I made the correct choice.

This Sunday I workshop with 2 CDs and the week after workshop with Law and Order CDs. In the meantime, I perhaps wrongly spent a lot of my vacation scheduling around auditions for the next week. I couldn't stay away. There's one tonight and tomorrow, 2 on Saturday, 1 Sunday after the workshop, and I'm sure I've forgot others. It's scary and daunting to not have a buffer period where I'm, I don't know, NOT DOING ANYTHING, but my poor ass needs to work, as does my poor soul.

Not to mention the foot cream infomercial I'm supposedly interviewing for. Is that acting? Does having funky feet qualify as resume experience? Tune in later to find out.

Well if you've read this far congratulations. If you've read any of this at all, well done. I've been away a while and needed to get all caught up.

Final thought: WTF Padres? Win some games please. Sincerely, San Diego.

I have a few updates.

2009-07-01T18:34:00.006-04:00

First off, and I am the last person to get on this, but Michael Jackson was amazing and I'm still speechless that he's gone. My first memory of him is watching the "Thriller" video around age 5 and being too scared to move. And also, being strangely awed by the zombie dancers. It will now officially be my wedding dance (should I ever tie the knot) (hint hint Jason!)

Okay so I guess I'll break this down by shoot, since I've done THREE in two days. Oy!

Sunday I played an office worker in "Happythankyoumoreplease", a from-what-I-could-glean-off-the-two-scenes-I-saw delightful movie involving the most adorable little boy EVER TO EXIST. We were kinda buddies and chatted about Teddy Grahams....I hope he gets famous. Although it was a long shoot, we were fed very well (FREE SHAKE SHACK OMGGGG) and were treated so nicely by the production people. Seriously, they were all equally awesome. Especially Pooch, one of the ADs. Pooch is the man. And me and the other 4 extras had our own special adventures since we were basically left to entertain ourselves all day. Good times. And hopefully, as long as the sequence isn't cut, I'll be in a movie! Look for a lame girl filing papers and typing on the computer as the little boy roams around the office. Or just go see the movie with me, I'll squeal at the appropriate time.

Then Monday I went to a shoot for a movie called Bitter Feast which was admittedly not as awesome (which you can't fault them for, it's just that I didn't have a brief run-in with Richard Jenkins like I had on Sunday). They also paid me, which, I mean, money, cash money!!! I'm poor. THE James LeGros was the lead in that and heartily entertained us while we pretending to be watching a cooking show.

Then, oh then....I headed to the shoot for the pilot of "Bartender Wars", premiering in a few months on the Fine Living Network (WTF). I was there from 2-11:30, and was constantly drinking and eating free food. Actor's paradise? Perhaps. For fear of ruining the fun, just watch that episode. Me, Sarah G, and K Hoff are basically the stars. We were front and center of the bar the whole shoot! And I got into a "confrontation" (not completely staged in any way at all). Besides the warring bartenders of course...all of whom were great sports and fun/interesting people, as you would expect NYC bartenders to be. AND 2 of my extra buddies from Sunday were at this shoot too! Getting drunk for the sake of sacred, sacred reality tv. Oh and Egypt (the host) LOVED Sarah. It was hilarious. And whaddya know, I actually remember it and didn't have nary a headache the next day (a big deal for me, 2 Beer Giolzetti)

Yesterday I stopped by the Apollo to take in the madness. It was surreal, "Beat It" was blasting from the heavens it seemed, and I was shoved and given "why is this white person here" looks...but it didn't matter. I walked by it, looked up at that iconic sign, and waved goodbye to one of my idols. RIP everyone.....even poor Billy Mays.

My next blog will hopefully be from sweet home San Diego, where I am going to recharge and de-stress--much needed after a string of very painful rejections. Speaking of rejection, my last audition before vacation is tomorrow!!! Woohoo. No I really am excited, just...tired. Obviously. Look at my last few days--sheesh!

OH! And check out the episode I shot for Z Rock this Sunday at 11pm on the IFC!!! I'm the blur of a person walking by.

Does Having A Giant Picture of My Face on Here Make Me A Megalomaniac?

2009-06-27T00:07:00.004-04:00

So while admitting defeat is not my strong suit, *sigh*, I'm leaving New York. It's too much right now.

Okay I'm only leaving for two weeks but still, for me, that's a while.

It's not that I'm not working. Work comes in waves, is unpredictable, and most definitely has a lot of downtime in between. And it's not constant rejection because let's be honest, at this point, when I've been acting competitively for 15 years, I'm used to being judged on the spot and rejected on the spot. It's the close calls that are killing me right now. I just can't seal the deal. I had a terrible audition yesterday and the people had nothing to do with it, they were so pleasant and encouraging and nice...I just wasn't doing it right. And I could feel myself sucking and couldn't stop. No do-overs. The least I could do was smile and hope they saw something of my craft in the proverbial dump I took and call me back for another chance. And, of course, today came and went with nary a call.

I AM GETTING SO CLOSE! What's wrong with me?

I would be a lot less sad if I hadn't received a hefty commercial check in the mail today. Seriously how would I have survived this last year without that job? God bless you House Production & Casting! One day of work literally paid my rent for a year. Well, two auditions, a whole lotta luck, and a 12 hour shooting day starting at 2:30am but who's complaining? Seriously House, I love you. Call me sometimes? I owe you dinner. Yes, the whole office.

Speaking of phone calls, where is my freelance agent lady friend? Has she gone away? Or have I done something egregious?

Here's a thought: stop waiting for something to happen to you and do it your freaking self, you drama queen. I said to myself.

I would be at the Gay Pride March tomorrow in some horrendousfierceinappropriate getup Sunday but alas, I have a JOB in a MOVIE! A real live movie! An unpaid, extra job in a movie but still, this is gonna be my first time on a big movie set and I'm gonna take it all in/get bored and read Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (thanks Jason!). More details after the shoot, in case, you know, they see me when I show up and determine I am in no shape to be in a real movie.

And how about that storm today? Hoo baby! And there's a giant hole in the ceiling where water poured out! That's hilarious and fun to deal with! Especially when water is pouring out of it at a comically fast rate! I'm being sarcastic! It was Terrible! I couldn't cook cause I used all my pots and pans for the leaks :(

Not that I would cook anyway, ha.

Clowning Around!!!

2009-06-17T16:05:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I was part of Cirque du Solieil's 25th anniversary stilt-walking celebration, and as you can probably tell it was a lot of fun. I got to meet the Kooza cast (!), make people laugh, and teach people how to walk on stilts (which I myself could not do very well at all, also as you can probably tell!) I even got an entire Circle Line boatfull of kids to laugh as I entertained them from a pier. As usual, the thing kids love the most is when you fall down, which I did, to their delight. No, it was not a Broadway house, but hearing all those raucous voices cheering me on was just enough to get me through the day.

Then today I took my ward to Victorian Gardens in the park, where I hit my shins a lot and paid too much for lemonade. Meredith loved it though, she even won a prize in the WACKAMOLE!

I always seem to have a low point after feeling so great about everything lately. Just the roller coaster of life, I guess.

Anyway, here are some pics of me from the event's Flickr page. Yes, they are goofy. The ones with me and that kid are my favorite. He was too freakin cute!

Yikes! Brush with Fame Ruined by iPhone

2009-06-11T12:56:00.002-04:00

Argh.
So while I was underground yesterday, I got a call about a possible background role in a Jennifer Aniston movie--as a beauty queen, of all things. Too bad I couldn't answer it--so the nice casting lady left a voicemail.

I received that voicemail at 9pm last night.

WTF

My iPhone apparently decided that this voicemail was not important enough to give me when I got off the subway. So I fervently left a message at their office (obviously now vacated), and hoped for the best.

This morning, the suspense was killing me (she had mentioned coming in for fittings today) so I gave up my sense of decency and called the office again. The lady answered, and she was helpful and nice and even double checked for me that the part was filled before hanging up.

I've googled this phenomenon (iPhones refusing to give me voicemails) but nothing definitive has shown up. To add to my iPhone frustration, Apple just came out with a new one (mine was gifted to me only a few weeks ago) and now I must head to the ATT store to haggle a new one or get my 100 bucks back since the prices are going down. Which I guess will not be too terrible, since I will get the new new new new phone, something I never do nor am I fervent about it. My boyfriend will probably lose it though. Oh techies.

But sucks about that job, right? Hopefully this doesn't ruin my good acting karma that had been whirling about me lately. This week was similar to last in terms of getting my ass out there: met 1 new casting director (fun), auditioned twice (both went well, one VERY well), went to a callback (nerve-wracking and stressful as always, when your competition is staring you in the face and you know it's her or you....eeeugh), and oh yeah worked 2.5 days at the office and will have logged in an impressive 20 babysitting hours. And tomorrow I'm doing a Columbia MFA shoot being a sad girl in an abortion clinic--woohoo!!! Sounds like a blast. I'm not being sarcastic.

I feel as though I am on the industry cusp.....sooooo close to breaking into it. I've honestly never felt like this before. Perhaps my ambitions have been fueled lately by a surge in admiration for my peers and myself for having the literal and figurative balls to get out there almost every day and WORK IT.

Stress/Going Crazy

2009-06-05T16:50:00.003-04:00

As my profession requires, I have many vocations going on at once. On any given day, I may be at my temp job, which I've grown strangely attatched to. Or maybe I'm babysitting, shuttling nearly always delightful Manhattan children around and baking cardboard frozen pizzas. Or maybe I'm doing an odd job, either from the temp agency or through some lovely contacts I've made recently who are actually paying me to goof around in the name of Cirque du Soleil. Or maybe, just maybe, you can find me in midtown acting my giant butt off for whomever cares to listen. Sometimes I'm even gifted with a rehearsal process and a performance! Whoda thunk? Kinda the whole point of me being here.

Now don't take this in any way as a complaint. Being busy with ANYTHING is very beneficial to my well-being, as I go a little insane when I have nothing to do. In fact, I look back on weeks such as the one I've just had with a sense of pride and accomplishment, with just a tinge of fatigue. Since last Friday, I worked 4 full days temping, worked on 2 shoots as an extra (1 paid), attended 3 auditions (2 film, 1 theatre), mailed a very very big agent, participated in a reading as Doll Tearsheet in Henry IV Part II (fingers crossed I get cast as that role is dy-no-mite!), AND found some time in there to eat, meet my friends for some much-needed drinkies, make weekend plans, schedule my coming weeks, and cuddle with my boyfriend and my pup on the couch.

It is hard to keep it all straight sometimes. I've double booked myself and had the special mortification of canceling an audition (this happened once and I've been actively trying not to do it ever ever again). But like I said, this is what's required of someone in my position. I learned quickly to not expect anyone to help you in this business--help and career partnerships are earned and cultivated, they don't materialize because they're so desperately needed. If there is a day, even a Saturday or Sunday, where I'm not doing anything about my career and try to relax, I kind of get a twisty worried feeling inside that maybe I don't deserve a day off yet. So that's why tomorrow, a day set aside for a trip upstate to tour my friend's hometown and go to a freaking carnival of all things, I still slipped in an audition in the morning. Sure, I could say, "sorry I'm planning a trip that day and can't make it", but the what ifs would eat me alive, and I wouldn't enjoy the time off anyway. Will this ever change? Will I ever be able to watch a bunch of TV in mah pj's with a big ol tub of ice cream without a care in the world?

I hope so.

I also hope I'll be in 1000 movies and plays that keep me on my feet 24/7 till I die at a comfortably old age.

This post was written, I think, to clear my head before I go home, walk Baxter, grill some burgers, and then watch "The Others" with all the lights off and the rain pounding a determined rhythm on my walls and windows. Sleeping in tomorrow will be a treat. Till next time, consider me de-stressed!

Resume and Updates

2009-05-21T23:50:00.003-04:00

Until I can actually get someone to make me a real live website, I'm kinda running by the seat of my pants here. So I'm gonna post my resume each time something gets added to it (which will be like every other day, right? Riiight? *nervous laughter*)

So here we go, hopefully this won't destroy my formatting!

JULIA GIOLZETTI
SAG-Eligible
Height: 5’3”
juliagiolzetti@gmail.com Hair:Brown

Eyes: Brown

Film, Television & Music Video
“Grow Up” Pilot Carnie (LEAD) New York University
Just Kait—“U Suck” Nerdy Girl (Feat.) MTV Productions/Sebastian Basco
Last Chance Christine (Principal) Saiyan Films/dir. Hightower
Maconheiro Nessa (Sup.) Of Our Hue Filmworks/R.S. Rhys
The Awkward Meltdown Nancy (Sup.) BriTANick Sketch Comedy Group
Coney Island 1940’s Girl (LEAD) New York University
The Ones You Love Sad Tasti D-Lite Girl (Feat.) Doomed Productions/Daniel Burgess

Commercial, Voiceover & Modeling
Bank of America/ MLB Banking Cubs Dugout Dancer (Principal) House Production &Casting
“Big Love” Interactive Billboard Promo 3 Women (v/o) BBDO
“Live at Gotham”/ Burger King Featured Audience Member Comedy Central
Crowds Featured Model Image Source Photography

Off-Broadway
BC/EFA Shakespeare Benefit Kate (Taming of the Shrew) Connelly Theatre/Jason Little

NY & Regional Theatre
The Back Line (world premiere) Dierdre At Hand Theatre/Jessica Brown-White
T.A.B. (world premiere) Kathy Graham Downtown Urban Theatre Festival
Twelfth Night Viola ATC Directing Class/Kate Holland
Cloud Nine Cathy Stella Adler Studios/Jimmy Tripp
The Misanthrope Philinte Stella Adler Studios/Tom Butler
Comedy of Errors Luciana Bryan Bevell
Romeo and Juliet Juliet Francine Chemnick
Three Sisters Rhode Rebellious Subjects Theatre Company
The Crucible Mary Warren Desha Crownover
Beauty Queen of Leenane Mag Marya Hicks
Electra Chrysothemis Stella Adler Studios/Anna Jones
Mad Forest Natalia Moraru Stella Adler Studios/Jason Little
Laura Dennis Pud Murphy Stella Adler Studios/Todd Parmley
The Last Days of Autumn (world premiere) Jane NYU Playwrights/Cory Conley

Training/Recognition
-BFA in Theatre from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts. Graduated in 3.5 yrs, all with Stella Adler Studio.
Speech: Andrew Wade, Alithea Phillips, Jason Little, Noah Brody. Movement: Joan Evans, Joanne Edelmann.
Acting: Peter Flynn, James Tripp, Alice Saltzman, Sam Schact, Angela Vitale, Ron Burrus, Betsy Parrish, Richie Jackson.
-Voice: Patricia Dell
-10 years at San Diego Junior Theatre in San Diego, CA.
-2004 Competitor in the Old Globe Shakespeare Competition (Semifinalist)
-2004 San Diego Playbill Award Winner for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy or Drama for “Romeo and Juliet”

Special Skills
Accents and dialects, character voices, stage combat, improvisation, sight reading, basic Spanish, 8 years of acoustic guitar, 5 years of French Horn, reciting all the Presidents in order very, very quickly.

Also, I've been having a lot of seminars that have been going really well. I know it sounds obvious, but being in those shows must have re-energized me and gave me more confidence and momentum going into these meetings with agents and casting directors. Or maybe I've just been lucky at getting really great people to see my work. Luck seems to be a thing that happens a lot in this crazy town.

Thu is on her way here for a week!!! A touch of home from an Asian sensation. We're gonna have SO MUCH FUN.

And finally, as promised, the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Heapboxvccs. If you watch in HD you can see me in the melee a couple times. I'm the only female nerd so it's easy to spot me. All that remains of my steamy lovefest is a shot of my butt being grasped in the background. Works for me!--actually it's probably best that some of that footage will never see the light of day :)

TABBY TAB TAB!!!!

2009-05-13T00:05:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow night!

A play about ASIANS, UNDERWEAR, SETTING YOURSELF ON FIRE, and THINKING YOUR PARENTS ARE DUMB

You'll laugh a lot

You'll wonder why

You'll see some very pretty girls with not a lot of clothes on

Don't worry, I'm not one of the scantily clad

I do wear high heels though

If you don't know me well, that's a friggin feat for me

I'm so proud of these guys! We put on a show! Come see it!

Or I will get you.

By the way, a big thanks to those involved in Death by Pop! It was a great experience and I would work with those fools again ANYTIME. Seriously guys call me. What a fun group of people!

Now off to contemplating turning 23 in a few days and furiously cleaning my apt for my parent's arrival.

Also I was really annoyed by a bunch of kids in purple robes on the subway today. Wow was that only a year ago? Graduation? I wasn't that lame, I swear I wasn't.

I guess at one point we really are all that lame. A sobering, but comforting thought.

I'm in another thing!

2009-05-02T17:45:00.003-04:00

So remember those two awesome auditions I had last week? Well one got me a callback which has yet to take place, and the other one I actually got the part! It's a great role and I am very honored to be working with the playwright in creating the character. The play is called "The Back Line", and it's performing as part of At Hand Theatre's annual fundraiser, so the ticket money goes to things like making good theatre. Something we can all get behind.

I play a teenage girl recently dead who has chosen to relive one special day in her short life--her first day on the cashier job at Jax Roast Beef. Why does she choose this day? Because of the cute but absentminded fry cook. She goes back to this day to tell him something important--but in the off chance you decide to come see, that's all I'm gonna say. There's also a very rapey manager which is always fun (actually he's awesome) so I really can't recommend this play more. It's funny, heartbreaking, sweet, and yes, molesty. What more do you want out of a 15 minute play?

So if you want to come you can get tickets off smarttix or go to athandtheatre.com and look over there. It's this Friday thru Sunday at 8, and tickets are 20 dolla.

Also, May 18th is the OFFICIAL music video premiere. You can listen to the song and learn more at www.myspace.com/justkait.

That's all for now! Support me and these two faaaabulous shows please (remember TAB goes up May 13th). Buh bye.

Revamped Commercial and My Beloved Padres

2009-04-19T17:30:00.000-04:00

So I'm leaving an audition yesterday morning and my mother calls to say there's a rumor that the baseball-themed BoA commercial I was in last year is airing once again, but this time the commercial ends with a close-up of my face. While I am stoked to hear this, I don't want to get too excited till I actually see it.

So I go home, and within 5 minutes of me turning the Yankee game on FOX (in that horrific 14 run inning), there indeed is my face all takin up the screen and I AM MAKING A DUMB DUMB FACE. Oh well, I am still very happy and even happier about the checks to follow (it would be nice to pay rent on time for once!) In other sports news, my Padres are kicking major culo right now, in spite of every broadcaster saying that we would be one of the worst teams this year. This is shaping up to be an awesome season and I hope to make it home to San Diego sometime this summer so I can catch a game at beautiful Petco. I am by no means a fair weather fan, my mood is closely related to the day's final score, so if you ever meet me and find me to be not much fun at all, I recommend checking ESPN :)

So that's awesome. And today I auditioned for 2 plays that I equally want to be in, as they both seem to be run by nice, competent people and both plays are extremely well-written...something I have found to not be the norm around these parts. Although it appears I have a streak going of not getting into plays I want to get into :(

But things are still going well! Look for my face during baseball TV breaks and on MTV in that music video, which they tell me will start airing in the next few weeks. Hooraw for these things!

Teaser Trailer for Maconheiro (Awesome Movie I was in)

2009-04-06T23:39:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVTgEkpnPX4

This movie shoot was so much fun mainly because I got my first on-screen death (spoiler!!...?) and got to act with a wonderful gal named Monica and a delicious Brazilian man as well.

This was shot back in November and is the legend of the Maconheiro (tongue firmly and awesomely in cheek). My favorite line is ..."and then smokes the weed out of it!" My indignation is stellar. Oddly enough, I'm not in a lot of things where I speak and you can also see me so this is hopefully the start of a talkie and see-ie career in the pictures. I'm weird.

Also that is my whisper at the end. I think the intent was to be creepy but it just makes me annoyed at myself more than anything.

If you haven't noticed, I can't wait to see this entire movie...and I'm sure you can't either.

In other news you probably didn't know you needed to know, the music video is slated to premiere at the end of this month--look for pantslessness to ensue on your local music television network. If you are too lazy to troll MTV (unlike me), check in with this blawgg and twill be posted here the instant it goes live. I'm weird and have no life.

In casting news, I'm gonna be in a play about a true story of an MIT student who committed suicide by setting-oneself-on-fire-ness. Basically, a heartwarming situational comedy. It's called "T.A.B." and is actually wonderfully written, and as one of only 2 white people in the show, I have to represent!!! TAB stands for Trendy Asian Bitch, and as one who has had more lovely Asian friends than I would dare to count (looking in your direction Thu and Leane), I'm excited to explore the bitchy side of Asians. I lied, I have known one true TAB in my whole life--but she no longer haunts my dreams as our boyfriends stopped being roommates. (Burn!) And even though rehearsals haven't even started yet, my inner pimp needs some stretching. So yes, "T.A.B." is part of the Downtown Urban Theatre Festival (http://www.downtownurban.net/) and is performing ONE NIGHT ONLY on May 13th at 8:30pm. Click here (https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/performance.html?method=showPerformance&reset=user&perfId=7147245&code=) to purchase tickets.
*end self promotion*

Whew! Long post. Sorry.

I Love Britney Spears.

2009-03-17T11:06:00.000-04:00

I really do. I pretend not to, but I do. She's fascinating and fun to watch. And I do feel bad for her getting all this ridiculous attention. Why we chase celebrities confounds me.

In a completely hypocritical note, I found my favorite comedian of all time, Eddie Izzard, on Twitter and I am loving stalking him. His hilarity knows no bounds. "We need the Faulkland Islands...for strategic sheep purposes!"

Can you tell I'm sitting in my apartment bored out of my mind? Well tonight is a read thru of Last Chance, then an audition for a play that sounds quite fun at Theatre for the New City, and then drinking till I can't feel feelings.

Hooray for St. Patty's day!

Find me on twitter by the way: @juliagiolzetti

So much fun yesterday!!!

2009-03-09T11:18:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I filmed a music video for an MTV artist (who was so darn adorable) called "You Suck". I had a blast--everyone was awesome and the song was good enough that I didn't get tired of hearing it constantly for hours and hours. I got to do a lot of fun stuff and I was dressed in a ridiculous geek getup that involved a belt and a vest. And I got partnered at the end (in a rather steamy sequence) with a very nice (but 18 years old!) boy. Honestly, that part was the most fun because everyone went from being so nervous to just letting loose and going with it--I think my pants came off at one point--awkward. But yeah, fun experience and can't wait to see it premiere on MTV! And best of luck to Kait, she really was a sweetheart.

In other news, I've been cast in a film called "Last Chance", in a small role but I love my scene and am looking forward to our reading next week.

So basically my life is boring and nothing ever happens to me :)

MTV and Things

2009-03-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

So I'm gonna be in a music video that is guaranteed to be all over MTV since the artist is signed with MTV records. Only problem is, it's unpaid and they want us to be "controversial", meaning "naked". Not sure how I feel about this, since exposure (pun intended) is really the payment here. I guess I'll go and see how comfortable I feel and the atmosphere and take it from there. Airtime means nothing if you feel humiliated looking at it.

In other news, my dog won't stop peeing everywhere. It's like he's a teenager and testing me with how much he can do before I snap. But I'll never snap because he's a pup. Argh.

I got to be an extra for "Z Rock" on IFC last Friday. What a fun experience. I love the idea of being on a set, and everyone I worked with was awesome and nice and easygoing. Something tells me not all shoots are this pleasant, but I'd like to have more experience to compare, if ya know what I mean. So if you happen to catch the show and see a very believable person walking down a street and ordering food at a restaurant...it's 4 years of conservatory training at work. Yeeeeaah.

A Better Album

2009-02-20T19:43:00.001-05:00

The Strawberry Alarm Clock

Mission--not an intermission

I would pick this up in the store, wouldn't you?

The Album Cover Meme

2009-02-20T19:31:00.000-05:00

1 - Go to “wikipedia.” Hit “Random Article”or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.
2 - Go to “Random quotations”or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.
3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7daysThird picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.
4 - Use Photoshop/MS Paint or similar to put it all together.

so here we go....and I'm terrible at Paint by the way but it was quite a lot of fun...

1st Post

2009-02-16T14:54:00.000-05:00

Hello world. I'm a grown up lady now so I need a grown up blog.

Yesterday I was at a callback for Sonya for a production of Uncle Vanya. Usually I don't get too wrapped up in casting, as it mostly results in soiled dreams and rage; but I can't help but really, really want this part. Sonya is such a weird chick, but I've pretty much been in her situation and thought her thoughts...I think if I could play her it would be the closest character to myself I've ever done.

Although I did once play a 5 year old.

Anyways so I've spent all day wondering if I've been cast although I know these things take time.

I watched Revolutionary Road last night. It was an acting lesson, let me tell you. It's a rare treat to see a world so realized and people so fleshed out to the point you forget they're acting. And Leo. Sigh. I was 13 when Titanic came out, and that's all I need to say. He can cheat on me anytime.